Paul Burka has posted the biennially-anticipated list of which Texas lawmakers distinguished themselves this session — and which ones didn’t. As the old joke goes, the competition is considerably tougher in one category than in the the other. Texas Monthly assigned four writers to conduct hundreds of interviews and sit through hours upon hours of boring committee and floor sessions before reaching its conclusions. The magazine aims for a bipartisan look at the Legislature and lauds its Ten Best Legisators as those who worked constructively on real problems; the Worst generally earn the title by letting ego and personal or political ambition shade their judgement.

The envelope, please:

BEST:Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock (R-Killeen)

Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth)

Sen. Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock)

Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth)

Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen)

Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (D- San Antonio)

Rep. Jim Pitts (R-Waxahachie)

Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio)

Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio)

Sen. Tommy Wiliams (R-The Woodlands)

WORST:Rep. Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth)

Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas)

Comptroller Susan Combs (R-Austin)

Rep. Naomi Gonzalez (D-El Paso)

Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills)

Rep. Harvey Hilderbran (R-Kerrville)

Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston)

Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston)

Rep. Ron Reynolds (D-Missouri City)

Rep. Van Taylor (R-Plano)

BULL OF THE BRAZOS:Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston)

Unfortunately, the full story explaining the writers’ reasoning behind their picks won’t be available on the magazine’s website until a week from today. But few will question the choice of Williams, who won nearly universal respect in his new role as Senate Finance Chairman. San Antonio readers will be pleased to see that three of their lawmakers — Van de Putte, Martinez Fischer and Straus — made the Best list. In previous sessions, Martinez Fischer and Straus were constantly at odds; this session, they didn’t let their political differences overtake policy. And Van de Putte showed tremendous grace under pressure following the tragic death of an infant grandson.

Two Houston senators made the Worst list, and I will predict that Huffman got the title by lecturing churlishly to wrongfully convicted Texans and their families advocating a commission to study ways to improve criminal justice. The choice of Patrick is more of a mystery, as he was applauded by senators of both parties when passing big education bills committees. But chairman of Education can be a thankless task.

The Bull of the Brazos award is bestowed a lawmaker who demonstrates brilliance, tenacity and unpredictable temper in equal parts. Turner’s efforts to preserve the System Benefit Fund for poor utility customers nearly upset a budget compromise — and may have earned him the ambiguous reknown.

Go to Burka’s blog to weigh in with your observations and read comments from Capitol insiders.